HONOLULU (AP) – About 20 people opposed to building what would be one of the world’s largest telescopes on a Hawaii mountain are camped out near the construction site, vowing to stop work from resuming.
They are sleeping in vehicles or on cots under a tent and braving weather that’s chilly for Hawaii standards at Mauna Kea’s 9,200-foot elevation.
They are also making sure they have bail money ready. Some say they’re bracing to be arrested when the nonprofit company building the Thirty Meter Telescope intends to resume construction Wednesday.
Work was put on hold for two months after the arrests of 31 people blocking access to the site. On Saturday, telescope officials announced construction would start again. Those against the project say the $1.4 billion telescope will desecrate land held sacred by Native Hawaiians. Some say it’s time to curb development on the mountain, where 13 other telescopes sit.
Their protests prompted Gov. David Ige to say Hawaii has to do a better job of caring for the mountain. Ige added, however, that Thirty Meter Telescope has a right to proceed with construction.